Throughout the campaign, we have read stories about players like Eden Hazard, Alexis Sanchez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Although they are the key individuals for their respective clubs this season, there are still other players who have done their job quietly in the background but have not received the credit that they honestly merit.
With the current focus being on the Premier League golden boot race between Romelu Lukaku and Harry Kane, it’s time to look at the players who are flying under the radar and have been doing the tough work in their own half of the pitch. The top performers are normally the ones who have bagged the most goals or assists, however, these seven gems have been working their socks off and deserve to finally see their names in the limelight.
Oriol Romeu – Southampton
After struggling to nail down a place in the starting line-up at previous clubs Barcelona and Chelsea, Oriol Romeu has become a key player for Southampton in the middle of the park and is one of the first names to be picked on the team sheet by manager Claude Puel. As Victor Wanyama left for Tottenham Hotspur last summer, Romeu has covered the huge void in the defensive-midfield role with ease, which in fact earned him a new four-and-a-half-year contract at the end of January.
The Spaniard has evolved into an influential individual, who normally does his job in linking the play from defence to attack as well as driving forward whilst in possession. Not only that, but he is currently utilised as an ideal ball winner, especially in away games, and can also take the ball out of the areas that are pressed quite highly by the opposition. Still only 25-years-old, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he is linked with few of the best teams in Europe during the summer transfer window.
Ben Mee - Burnley
Despite his team-mate, Michael Keane, gaining all the praises due to the fact that he is a former Manchester United player, Ben Mee has played a pivotal role in the backline towards the side’s successful campaign this term, who have conceded only 42 goals so far this season. Unlike the 2014-15 season, Burnley have been defensively solid as a unit and more effective on the counter-attack.
The 27-year-old used to play as a left-back in his early days but his passing abilities and intelligence in reading the game so well has helped him become an accomplished centre-back. Mee has already kept a few of the best Premier League strikers in his pocket over the last few months and has also been very consistent with his performances.
Cesar Azpilicueta - Chelsea
As Antonio Conte continues to revolutionise Chelsea, the Italian’s decision of converting full-back Cesar Azpilicueta into a centre-back has proved to be one of the key factors behind the club’s unbelievable season. The Spaniard may lack the ideal height to play in this position, on the other hand, his positional awareness and ability to shut down attackers has been second to none.
Playing in all the league games this campaign, Azpilicueta instantly adapted to his new role after Chelsea had failed to buy another centre-back during the summer transfer window. The former Osasuna and Marseille player has provided the Blues with the perfect balance in defence as David Luiz and the wing-backs tend to spend most of the game going forward while his side are in possession.
Tom Davies – Everton
Following his first Premier League appearance of the season at the start of the year, Tom Davies has announced himself as a rising talent and has not looked back since. Having been at Everton since he was 11-year-old, Davies has benefitted from being a local lad who is enjoying the fact that his dream of becoming a regular starter for the club he supports has finally come true.
Before his introduction to the team, Ronald Koeman’s side was seriously lacking pace and creativity in midfield, which was starting to become a bigger problem due to the dipping form of Ross Barkley. Nevertheless, Davies’ tireless running, incredible energy and adventurous drives into the final third of the pitch has been a major feature of the side’s impressive run over the last six weeks in the league.
Georginio Wijnaldum - Liverpool
After the move from Championship side Newcastle United was official, Georginio Wijnaldum’s arrival at Liverpool was doubted by many pundits and fans before he had even kicked a ball for his new team. Eight months later, the £25million fee paid by the Reds is now viewed as a bargain with Wijnaldum being recognised as one of the signings of the season.
The Dutchman has developed himself into a reliable and dominant star in Liverpool’s midfield, from dictating the play within the deep area to covering every blade of grass. With his physical and aerial presence, Wijnaldum has been thriving in the role as a box to box midfielder. On top of that, he has become a big game player, bagging crucial goals at home against the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal.
Antonio Valencia – Manchester United
It’s fair to say that Antonio Valencia has hardly been a fans' favourite and can be frustrating to watch whilst he is in possession within the final third of the pitch. However, since making the right-back position his very own, his displays over the last year have massively matured as he continues to always give everything for the team.
Valencia has been reborn under Jose Mourinho, enjoying his role of running up and down the right flank to defend and attack. In his last four appearances in the league, the 31-year-old has notched up two assists and one goal, proving to be a key asset towards the side’s attacking phase of the game. Also, he has completed the second most tackles (55) and third most interceptions (38) compared to the rest of the Manchester United squad this season.
Ben Foster – West Brom
West Brom are in eighth position in the Premier League at the moment, seven points away from surpassing the record total of 49 points they achieved during the 2012-13 season. Goalkeeper Ben Foster has been a major influence behind the side’s successful campaign. The 33-year-old has been part of a back division that has only conceded 38 league goals, just two more than fourth-placed Liverpool.
Foster has come up with the goods - making several saves in injury-time. His experience and leadership have proved to be vital in the key fixtures away from home. Currently in his sixth campaign as a regular starter for the Baggies, Foster is on his way to becoming mself as a club legend. The former Manchester United and Birmingham City shot-stopper has completed the second most saves (90) in the league this season.
